Combined latch and lock device



July 9, 1957 c. s. GEHRIE l 2,798,371

MBINED LATCH AND LOCK D"`VI E Filed 001'.. 11, 1954 CO D C 2 Sheefs-Sheet 1 .July 9, 1957 c. s. GEHRIE 2,798,371

COMBINED LATCH AND LOCK DEVICE Filed Oct. 11t 1954 I' 2 Sheets-Sheet? c kmm "43 /5 33 VIII/1l,

[/l/llI/lll/llllllllllll l r INVENTOR.

contenant) Laren AND Loon DEVICE Charles S. Gebl-ie, Montclair, N. J., assigner to Presto Lock Company, a limited partnership Application October 11, 1954, Serial No. 461,433

Z Claims. (Cl. 70-73) This invention relates -to a releasable latch and lock device for a luggage case or like container of the kind having a cover or lid hinged to a body section for closing the latter, and for `other uses requiring means to releasably fasten separate parts one to another.

This invention has for an object to provide a latch and lock device comprising a body member provided with a compound hinge means by which its rear end is attached to one of two separable parts to be releasably fastened together, and provided at its forward end with a male latching means adapted to engage with a female latching means which is attached to the other of the two separable parts to be releasably fastened together; the compound hinge means of vthe body member being expandible or extensible to permit manipulated up swinging `of the rearward end of the body member accompanied by forward longitudinal movement of said body member, whereby to disengage the male latching means thereof from said female latching means, means being provided, which is operative during such releasing movement, to automatically lift the forward end of the body member, whereby to raise the withdrawn male latching means to a plane above the tema e latching means, thus disposing said body member, upon collapse of the compound hinge means, in completely released condition, so as to permit separation of the separable parts which the latch and lock device serves; the compound hinge means being spring biased to a normal collapsed condition.

This invention has for another object to provide the body member of the device with a compound hinge means which, when the male and female latching means are operatively engaged, and the hinge means is collapsed, one element of said hinge means will cross a dead center position relative to another element thereof, whereby to both draw the male latching means into firm and complete engaged relation to the female latching means and to hold down the body member against accidental displacement from its latched relation to the female latching means.

The invention has for a further object to provide the body member with key actuatable means which is engageable with the compound hinge means so as to prevent manipulated expanding or extending movement of the latter, thereby locking the body member lagainst unauthorized releasing manipulation.

The above and other objects will be understood from a reading of the following detailed description of this invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of the combined latch and lock device of this invention, shown in its latched condition; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, tak-en on line 2-2 in Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectionalrview similar to that of Fig. 2, but showing the body member as manipulated 4to effec-t the initial stage of its released condition; Fig. 4 is` another longitudinal sectional view in part side elevation, showing the body member inV a second stage of its released condition; and Fig. 5 is still another longitudinal sectional view, in part side elevation, showing the body member in the lnal stage of its released condition.

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view, taken on line 6--6 in Fig. 3; and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, taken on line 7 7 in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, in the several ligures of which corresponding 'characters of reference are applied to indicate like parts, the reference character 10 indicates a suitably shaped, elongate and downwardly open hollow body member, which is provided at its rearward end with an upwardly and angularly projecting linger piece 11. The rearward end of the body member 10 is adapted to be attached to a wall 13 of the body section of a luggage case or like container by means of a compound hinge structure, and in such position thereon that the forward end portion of said body member laps a wall 14 of the cover section of said luggage case or like container, when said cover section is disposed in closed relation to said body section.

The compound hinge structure comprises an upper hinge element, ra lower hinge element, and an interconnecting hinge link element. The upper hinge element cornprises a base 15 from opposite sides of which depend laterally spaced apart perforate bearing ears 16, to and between which extends a transverse hinge pin 17. The base 1S of said upper hinge element is atlixed to the underside of the top wall of the body member lil, as by rivet studs 18 which project therefrom, or by other suitable means of attachment, so as 4to be disposed within the rearward end of the body member interior. The lower hinge element comprises a base 19 from opposite sides of which project upstanding, laterally spaced apart perforate bearing ears 20, to and between which ears extends a transverse hinge pin 21. The base 19 of said lower hinge element is affixed to the wall 13 of the body `section of said luggage case `or like container, as by rivets 22, or by other suitable fastening means, and in such position that the bearing ears Ztl project upwardly into the interior of the body member lil forwardly of the upper hinge element, when the body member is disposed in normal lowered position, substantially parallel and contiguous to said wall 13 of the body section of said luggage case or like container. The hinge link element comprises a link plate 23 which is provided, adjacent to the fom/ard end thereof with upstanding, laterally spaced 1apart perforate pivoting ears 24 which lie between the bearing ears 20 of the lower hinge element, and through which the hinge pin 21 of the latter extends, so as to pivotally join said forward end of the link plate 23 therewith. Said link plate 23 is provided at its rearward end, with laterally spaced hinge knuckles 25, which engage around the hinge pin 17 of the upper hinge ele ment, so as to pivotally join said rearward end of the link plate 23 with said upper hinge element. Extending angularly upward from the forward end of the link plate 23, preferably as an integral part thereof, is a lock tongue 26 having sa lock bolt receiving aperture 27 for cooperation with a key actuatable lock bolt hereinafter described.

The extensible compound hinge structure is biased to a normally collapsed condition. To this end, a torsional spring 28 is mounted around the hinge pin 17, which is carried by the upper hinge element. One terminal leg 29 of this spring is engaged over and thus anchored to the base 1S of the upper hinge element, and the other leg 30 of said spring bears against the underside of the link plate 23, whereby the upper hinge element and the bodyjmember 10 to which it is affixed is yieldably urged toward the link plate 23 for down folding movement relative thereto. `Similarly, a torsional spring 31 is` mounted around the hinge pin 21 which is carried by the lower hinge element, and one leg 32 of said spring 31 is engaged around an anchoring lug 33 which projects angularly upward from the forward end of the vbase 1-9 of said lower hinge element, while the other leg 34 of said spring 31 bears against the upper sideV of the link plate 23, whereby said link plate is jyieldablyI urged toward the base 19 of the lower hinge element for down folding movement relative thereto. i"

The interior of the body member is suitably 'formed to provide longitudinally spaced supports`35, ;36 yand '37 upon which is seated an inlay plate 38 disposed in a horizontal plane intermediate the top and bottom of the body member 10. This inlay plate 38 is aliixed to the body member 10 so as to be unitary therewith, as by rivet studs 39 which project therethrough from -the supports 36 and 37, or by other suitable means of attachment. The forward end -of said inlet plate 38 is formed to provide a downwardly offset, rearwardly projecting male latching member 40, which lies substantially in the plane of the bottom of the body member 10.

Disposed upon the wall 14 of the cover section of the luggage Acase or like container, is a forwardly open, hollow female latching member 41, the base 42 of which is aliixed to said wall 14, as by rivets 43 or other suitable fastening means.

Underlying the inlay plate 38, and preferably aixed thereto by the same rivet studs 39 or other fastening means by which said inlay plate is attached to the body member 10, is the tail portion 44 of a longitudinally disposed leaf spring 45. This leaf spring 45 extends forwardly toward and normally adjacent to the inclined back of the female latching member 41 so as, at proper times, to ride onto and tensionally thrust downwardly against the top of the hollow body of said female latching member.

In the operation of the device as so far described, when n the latched condition shown in Fig. 2, in which the compound hinge structure thereof is collapsed, the body member 10 occupies a normal lowered position substantially parallel to the walls of the luggage case or like container upon which it is mounted, and a rearwardly drawn position in which the male latching member 40 is entered in the female latching member 41, thus fastening together the separable sections of the luggage case or like container.

To release the device from the aforesaid latched condition, the operator grasps the finger piece 11 of the body member 1) so as to upswing the rearward end of the latter, and thereby to up swing the link plate 23 of the compound hinge structure about the hinge pin 21 of the lower hinge element, thereby transmitting to the up swung body member 10 a forward longitudinal shift or advance, which withdraws and frees the male latching member 40 from the female latching member 41. Such advance of the body member 10 causes the leaf spring 45 to ride up onto the female latching member 41, thus vbringing said leaf spring 45 to a condition of maximum down thrusting tension against said female latching member (see Fig. 3). This completes the first phase of the releasing operation of the device.

The first phase of the releasing operation of the device having been accomplished as above described, the operator relaxes forward pressure upon the body member 10. Immediately forward pressure upon the body member 10 is relaxed, the downward thrust ofthe tensioned leaf spring 45' is unresisted, and consequently, byits downward thrust against the immovable female 1atchingmember 41, said leaf spring functions to up swing the forward end of the body member 10, about the hinge pin 17 of the upper hinge element of the compound hinge structure as a pivot. Such up swinging of the forward end of the body member 10 lifts the freed male latching member 40 to a plane somewhat above the top ofthe female latching member 41 (see Fig. 4). This effects a second phase of the releasing operation of the'device.

Said second phase of the releasing operationl of the device having occurred, the operator entirely releases the CII finger piece 11 of the body member 10, thus allowing the compound hinge structure to collapse under the urge of its springs 28 and 31, thereby retracting the body member 10 so that its elevated forward end carries the male latching member 40 onto the top of the female latching member 41, while at thesame time down swinging the rearward end of the body member 10 to normal initial lowered position (see Fig. 5). This completes the releasing operation of the device, and holds the male and female latching members disengaged, so that the separable sections of the luggage case or like container can thereupon be separated to open said case or like container.

To return the device from released to latched condition, when separable sections of the luggage case or like container are closed together, the operator grasps the finger piece 11 of the body member 10 and up swings the rear end of the latter to effect bodily forward movement thereof accompanied by down swinging movement of its forward end. Such movements of the 'body member 10 returns the male latching member 40 to lowered and opposed relation to the female latching member 41, being the position shown in Fig. 3. While holding the body member so disposed, the operator thereupon presses down upon the finger piece 11, so as to collapse the compound hinge structure, and force the rearward pivoted end of the link plate 23, as connected with the upper hinge element, to swing down and across a dead center plane coincident to the pivotal connection of its forward end with the lower hinge element, thus both longitudinally retracting the body member 10 to cause the male latching member 4t) to enter and reengage the female latching member 41, while at the same time firmly holding the lowered rear end of the body member 10 resistant to accidental displacement from its resultant latched condition.

ln most cases it is desirable to provide the device with a key actuatable locking means operative to lock the body member 1t), when in its latched condition, against unauthorized released. For such purpose, a longitudinal lock bolt 46 is arranged to be slidably movable between the supports 36 and 37 and an abutment 47 laterally offset therefrom (see Fig. 7), and in a plane intermediate the inlay plate 3S and the top wall of the body member (see Fig. 2). The operative end 48 of the lock bolt 46 is opposed to the aperture 27 in the lock tongue 26 with which the forward end of the link plate 23 of the compound hinge structure is provided, when said compound hinge structure is collapsed and said lock tongue 26 thereby positioned in the path of lock bolt movement (see Fig. 2). The lock bolt 46 is provided, adjacent to its rearward end and to project from its inner margin, with a positioning nosing 49 which cooperates with a fixed stop projection 5t) with which the support 36 is provided. To yieldably urge the lock bolt and its nosing 49 toward said stop projection 50, said lock bolt is provided, in connection with its outer margin, with a spring arm 51. The free end of said spring arm 51 bears against the abutment 47 (see Fig. 7), so as to effect lateral tensional thrust against the rear end of the lock bolt. The lock bolt 46 isfurther provided, intermediate its ends and spaced along its inward margin, with a key .engageable shoulder 52 to receive turning thrust of an actuating key in direction to advance the lock bolt into locking engagement with the lock tongue 26 of the compound hinge structure, and with another key engageable shoulder S3 to receive turning thrust of the actuating key in direction to retract the lock bolt from locking position to released position. It will be obvious, when the lock bolt 46 is engaged in the aperture 27 of the lock tongue 26, the compound hinge structure will be positively restrained against extension so that the body member 10 can not be manipulated to release it from a latched condition. will be understood, when the lock bolt is advanced to ItV locking position, that the nosing 49 will ride over the stop projection 50 so that the rearward side of the former will abut the latter, thereby holding the lock bolt against accidental retractive shift and displacement from said locking position thereof.

Rotatably mounted in the top wall of the body member l0, so as to overlie the lock bolt 46, is a suitably slotted key barrel S4, through which a key (not shown) can be passed for operative disposition between the shoulders 52 and 53 of the lock bolt, so that thrust of the turned key can be applied to one or the other of said shoulders, as may be required for desired lock bolt operation.

Although provision of the locking means will be found desirable in most cases, said locking means may be omitted in an embodiment of this invention desired to provide only latching effect.

Having now described my invention, l claim:

1. A device for releasably fastening together the body and cover sections of a container comprising an elongated downwardly open hollow body member adapted to be attached at its rearward end to the body section of said container by a compound hinge structure, a male latching member supported within the forward end of the body member, a female latching member adapted to be affixed to the cover section of said container for engagement by said male latching member, said hinge structure comprising a dependent upper hinge element aixed to and within the rear end portion of the body member, an upstanding lower hinge element for attachment to the body section of said container in forwardly offset relation to and projecting into the hollow body member above said upper hinge element in the latching position of the fastening device, and a link plate having its rear end pivotally connected with said upper hinge element and its forward end pivotally connected with said lower hinge element, said link plate being adapted to be swung to move the upper hinge element across the dead center plane of its pivotal connection with said lower hinge element to normally collapse the hinge structure, whereby to rearwardly shift the body member to effect engagement of said male latching member with said female latching member, said link plate being adapted to be up swung, by manual lifting of the rear end of the body member, to extend the hinge structure from its normal collapsed condition, whereby to forwardly shift said body member and thereby disengage said male and female latch members, said hinge structure including spring means to bias the same to its normalcollapsed condition, and a leaf spring attached to the body member within the forward interior portion thereof and adapted, by forward movement of said body member, to ride upwardly onto the female latching member, so as to up swing the forward end of the body member upon disengagement of said male and female latching members, thereby disposing the male latching member out of alignment with the female latching member so as to over ride the latter when the rear end of the body member is released and down swung by return of the hinge structure to normal collapsed condition.

2. A device for releasably fastening together the body and cover sections of a container comprising an elongated downwardly open hollow body member adapted to be attached at its rearward end to the body section of said container by a compound hinge structure, a male latching member supported within the forward end of the body member, a female latching member adapted to be afhxed to the cover section of said container for engagement by said male latching member, said hinge structure comprising a dependent upper hinge element affixed to and within the rear end portion of the body member, an upstanding lower hinge element for attachment to the body section of said container in forwardly offset relation to and projecting into the hollow body member above said upper hinge element in the latching -position of the fastening device, and a link plate having its rear end pivotally connected with said upper hinge element and its forward end pivotally connected with said lower hinge element, said link plate being adapted to be swung to move the upper hinge element across the dead center plane of its pivotal connection with said lower hinge element to normally collapse the hinge structure, whereby to rearwardly shift the body member to effect engagement of said male latching member with said female latching member, said link plate being adapted to be up swung, by manual lifting of the rear end of the body member, to extend the hinge structure from its normal collapsed condition, whereby to forwardly shift said body member and thereby disengage said male and female latch members, said hinge structure including spring means to bias the same to its normal collapsed condition, and a leaf spring attached to the body member within the forward interior portion thereof and adapted, by forward movement of said body member, to ride upwardly onto the female latching member so as to up swing the forward end of the body member upon disengagement of said male and female latching members, thereby disposing the male latching member out of alignment with the female latching member so as to over ride the latter when the rear end of the body member is released and down swung by return of the hinge structure to normal collapsed condition, a lock bolt slidably supported within the body member, the link plate of the hinge structure having at its forward end an angularly projecting apertured lock tongue adapted to be opposed to said lock bolt when the hinge structure is collapsed, whereby to be engageable by the lock bolt for locking the hinge structure against extending movement, and thereby preventing releasing manipulation of the body member, and a key barrel rotatably mounted in connection with the body member through which a key can be inserted for actuating engagement with said lock bolt.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,196,049 Andres Apr. 2, 1940 2,560,827 Segesman July 17, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 694,307 France Dec. 2, 1930 841,930 France June 1, 1939 

